HandsOn Tomorrow^TM  Frequently Asked Questions 

How do I enroll in the program?

The 2025 application will be live in mid-February. The application asks for general contact information, as well as a few short volunteer-related prompts. HandsOn Bay Area staff will review applications and enroll participants on a rolling basis. Acceptance into the program requires thoughtful answers on the student’s application, and a $300 deposit within 2-weeks of the application submission. Space is limited for this program, so be sure to enroll at your earliest convenience to secure your spot!

Who is eligible for the program?

Eligible students are rising high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

How will you select for the scholarships?

Scholarships are available for HandsOn Tomorrow based on financial need. While limited, we aim to make the program accessible to young people from all backgrounds. To apply, complete the main application, and you'll be redirected to the scholarship page if you indicate a need. We recommend applying as early as possible. Full scholarships cover the program fee, requiring only a $75 payment, and partial scholarships may be available depending on funds.

Where are all of the projects located?

The cohort will most likely be assisting 5-7 non-profits, schools, and parks (TBD). The projects take place from M-F (8:30am-12:30pm) at various community partner sites in the Palo Alto area. We are currently vetting possible nonprofit partners to serve as host sites; once finalized, a schedule of the specific locations will be shared.

Is there transportation to the program?

HandsOn Bay Area will not provide transportation to the various sites. However, once the cohort participants are enrolled, communications will be provided to encourage carpooling amongst participants.

What meals are provided?

Students will be provided with breakfast every morning of the program, as well as various snacks throughout the day. The 2025 program will not provide lunch; however, considering the timing of the program, we understand students may want to bring their own lunches/snacks. Pick-up is anytime from 12-12:30pm. Participants can either bring their own lunch and eat it during this window, or students can be picked up to eat lunch elsewhere. Please note that the nonprofit sites we visit do not guarantee a refrigerator or microwave.

Why do I need to pay to participate?

HandsOn Tomorrow is not a profitable program. The fee to participate contribute to operating costs – staff time,program supplies, and participants’ breakfast.

How will I earn my service hours?

Students will be able to receive up to 40 hours of community service during the program. Only the hours that the student attends will be counted. These hours will be logged on their HandsOn Bay Area account; any additional volunteer hour verification can be provided as needed.

Is my enrollment fee tax-deductible?

While HandsOn Bay Area is a charitable non-profit (EIN: 77-0195144), participating youth do receive goods and services for the fee. For this reason, you can deduct 20% of the full priced enrollment fee from your taxes as charitable contributions. If awarded a scholarship, none of the $75 enrollment fee is tax-deductible.

Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA)

HandsOn Bay Area is a certifying organization for the PVSA. All hours earned during HandsOn Tomorrow can count towards their PVSA. Please refer to this website to determine which PVSA award bracket your student qualifies for. Students will not need to apply to the PVSA themselves. HandsOn Bay Area will submit your student’s PVSA on their behalf (after the student emails info@handsonbayarea and requests so), as long as 33% of the volunteer hours for the PVSA were completed with HandsOn Bay Area. Volunteer hours can be acquired outside of HandsOn Bay Area, however, the volunteer hours must come from a nonprofit that can verify the student’s hours and an employee contact must be provided. HandsOn Tomorrow will provide up to 40 volunteer hours, meaning HandsOn Tomorrow will not solely fullfill all PVSA hour requirements. However, there are other opportunities to gain volunteer hours through HandsOn Bay Area (listed below).

How can I continue to stay involved in volunteering after participating in HandsOn Tomorrow?

Upon enrollment, all participants will be granted a lifelong membership to HandsOn Bay Area’s Community Project Calendar. This will allow them to continue volunteering around their busy schedules. Additionally, participants who complete the curriculum and hours for HandsOn Tomorrow will have the opportunity to apply for a seat on HandsOn Bay Area’s Youth Volunteer Council. Youth leaders on the council continue planning volunteer projects and engaging their community in service throughout the year. Any volunteering completed with the YVC or Community Project Calendar will be counted towards the students’ volunteer hours.

Will all of the program time count as volunteer hours or will only the volunteer projects count?

All of the time that you commit to the program (meaning 8:30am - 12:30pm) will count toward your volunteer hours. Students will only receive hours for the days/times they attend.

Can I participate in just one week of the program?

No. It is required that each participant attend their cohort’s full two-week program. Each day, HandsOn Tomorrow participants will be taken through our service-learning curriculum, and it is essential that each person is present and attentive to receive the full benefits of the experience.

What if I have to miss a couple of days? Can I still participate?

Each day of the program contains a unique aspect of our service-learning curriculum, and it would be a detriment to the participant to miss out on any aspect of the program. That said, people do get sick and have obligations that can sometimes get in the way. If you have a specific conflict that you have in mind, please bring it up with us in your application, so we can determine whether or not that would affect your eligibility to participate.

Is my enrollment fee tax-deductible?

While HandsOn Bay Area is a charitable non-profit (EIN: 77-0195144), participating youth do receive goods and services for the fee. For this reason, you can deduct 20% of the full-priced enrollment fee from your taxes as charitable contributions. If awarded a scholarship, none of the $75 enrollment fee is tax-deductible.

What is the refund policy?

To secure your student's spot, a non-refundable deposit of $350 is required; this deposit will be invoiced within 2 business days of the application submission to the parent/guardian’s email after the application is submitted (unless a scholarship need is indicated) and is due within the week. The remaining program fee of $725 is due by May 8th, 2025, and can be fully refunded if requested before May 14, 2025. If requested before June 12, 2025, it will be partially refunded ($362.50). As our program is not-for-profit and relies on enrollment fees to cover staffing and resources, we cannot offer any refunds after June 12, 2025.

Will there be a waitlist?

Yes, once we are at capacity, we will continue to accept applicants for the waitlist. If spots open up for the program, applicants will be admitted to the program based on the order their application was received.

Can I still participate if I have health/physical limitations?

Accessibility to all aspects of this program is a crucial goal for HandsOn Bay Area. To ensure that this goal is met, accessibility for participants with health/physical limitations will be a priority as we confirm hosting nonprofit partners for the program. With specific inquiries, please contact Alexandra at alexandra@handsonbayarea.org.